Device for applying liquids.



No. 689,266. Patented Dec. l7, l90l. W. WIGG'INS.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS.

I (Application filed Sept. 80, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Urrrcn.

lVILLIAM \VIGGINS, OF BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,266, dated December17, 1901.

Application filed September 30, 1901. Serial No. 77,056. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Wrcems, of Brockton, county of Plymouth, andState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Devices forApplying Liquids, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a device for applying a fluid orliquid, such as cement, to the surface of an article, such as the bottomof a shoe to which a sole is to be ccmented, the surface of which ismore or less rounded or convex, the convexity difiering in diflerentparts, so that the surface is not regular.

The applying device embodying the invention is in the form of a roll;and the object of the invention is to construct the roll so that thesurface thereof will conform to the surface of the article to which thecement is to be applied regardless of the shape thereof. Taking, forexample, the bottom of a shoe, the surface thereof is much less convexin the main portion than in the shank and is also irregular in shape,and in order that an even amount of cement may be applied throughout itis necessary that the surface of the roll should be of such nature as toconform to different shapes according to the shape of the surface withwhich it is in contact. It is further desirable that the roll when innormal condition should be substantially cylindrical, so that the cementwill be taken up thereby in a film of substantially uniform thickness,controlled, for example, by a scraper-blade set at any desired distancefrom the surface of the roll.

To these ends the roll embodying the present invention is provided witha flexible surface or carrying portion for the fluid, which portion isstretched over a suitable core, being supported and secured only alongthe edges, the core having a concave surface to permit the carryingportion to yield. As herein shown, the carrying portion is secured bysupporting members which consist of extensible annular bands, such asendless rings of coiled or spiral springs which rest upon inclinedshoulders formed on the core, the flexible carrying portion beingstretched over the said springs and secured beyond them, so that whenpressure is brought to bear upon said flexible portion the springs willroll up the inclined surface, allowing the flexible portion to yield. Assoon, however, as the pressure is released the springs by contractingwill return to their normal position, again stretching the flexiblecarrying portion, so that the surface of the roll in its normalcondition is substantially cylindrical.

Figure l is alongitudinal section of an applying roll embodying theinvention; and" Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, partly broken awayand shown in section.

The supporting-core a or body of the roll is shown as provided withbearing projections ta so that the said roll can be rotatably mounted inany suitable way and partially immersed in the fluid or liquid which isto be distributedsuch, for example, as liquid ce ment to be applied toshoe-bottoms, for which purpose the article embodying the invention ismainly adapted. The said core has a concave surface a so as to permitthe yielding cover or carrying portion 19 to move or yield in wardly,the said cover being stretched across the core, as shown, so as normallyto form a substantially cylindrical outer surface for the roll. The saidcover is made of any suitable flexible material-such, for example, ascan vas or other fabric which is capable of taking up the cement fordistribution and is shown as provided with yielding means formaintaining it stretched when no pressure is applied to the surface. Asherein shown, the said yielding means comprise extensible an nularmembers c-such, for example, as endless spiral springs which normallyrest against inclined shoulders a formed at or near the ends of the core0., it being obvious that if the said spiral springs are drawn inwardtoward the middle of the core they will be stretched and on contractingwill tend to move back along the shoulders a where the diameter is less;but in their normal positions the mem= bers c are shown as projectingbeyond the end of the core, and the flexible carrying portion 1) isdrawn over the said members c'and back to the surface of the core a,where it is fastened, the said carrying portion thus being held tautwholly by the members 0, so that it is capable of yielding to whateverextent Ice is permitted by the extensibility of the said members. While,therefore, the carrying or distributing surface of the roll is normallysubstantially cylindrical and capable of being supplied with a uniformfilm of cement, the said surface is capable of yielding and conformingto a surface of any degree of convexity, the manner in which the saidsurface yields being illustrated in dotted lines, Fig.1, where themembers are shown as pulled up along the inclined shoulders a againstthe tendency of said members to contract and move toward the point ofsmallest diameter.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cover portion b may be fastened at Z9 to the endof the core a, and the said core may be provided with end pieces aadapted to be screwed or otherwise fastened to the said core to coverand protect the fastening devices 12 It is, however, immaterial howthe-flexible surface portion 2') is fastened, it being essential onlythat the said portion should haveacertain amount of slack, which istakennp in any suitable way, as by the yielding members 0. It is not,therefore, intended to limit the invention to the specific constructionand arrangement shown and described, since modifications may be madewithout departing from the invention.

I claim 1. A fluid-applying roll comprising a supporting-core having aconcave surface; and a yielding fluid carrying or distributing portionstretched over said core across said con cave surface.

2. A fluid-applying roll comprising a supporting-core; a flexible fluidcarrying or distributing portion; and means for yieldingly connectingthe said distributing portion with said core whereby the said portion iscapable of con forming to convex or irregular surfaces, as set forth.

3. The combination with a supporting-core; of a flexible fluid carryingor distributing portion connected with said core; inclined shouldersformed on the said core; and annular extensible members over which theflexible portion is stretched, said annular members resting against thesaid shoulders, as set forth;

4. A fluid-applying roll comprising a core; aflexible fluid carrying ordistributing'portion annular elastic members circular in cross-sectionover-which said carrying or distributing portion is stretched; andinclined shoulders formed around the core to alford a support for saidannular members, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM WIGGINS.

Witnesses:

NANCY P. FORD, HENRY J. LIVERMORE.

